Hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells protect neurons from cardiac arrest-induced pyroptosis

Cardiac arrest can lead to severe neurological impairment as a result of inflammation,mitochondrial dysfunction,and post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation neurological damage.Hypoxic preconditioning has been shown to improve migration and survival of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells and reduce pyroptosis after cardiac arrest,but the specific mechanisms by which hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells protect against brain injury after cardiac arrest are unknown.To this end,we established an in vitro co-culture model of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells and oxygen–glucose deprived primary neurons and found that hypoxic preconditioning enhanced the protective effect of bone marrow stromal stem cells against neuronal pyroptosis,possibly through inhibition of the MAPK and nuclear factor κB pathways.Subsequently,we transplanted hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells into the lateral ventricle after the return of spontaneous circulation in an 8-minute cardiac arrest rat model induced by asphyxia.The results showed that hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells significantly reduced cardiac arrest–induced neuronal pyroptosis,oxidative stress,and mitochondrial damage,whereas knockdown of the liver isoform of phosphofructokinase in bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibited these effects.To conclude,hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells offer a promising therapeutic approach for neuronal injury following cardiac arrest,and their beneficial effects are potentially associated with increased expression of the liver isoform of phosphofructokinase following hypoxic preconditioning.

Hydrogel loaded with bone marrow stromal cell-derived exosomes promotes bone regeneration by inhibiting inflammatory responses and angiogenesis

BACKGROUND Bone healing is a complex process involving early inflammatory immune regu-lation,angiogenesis,osteogenic differentiation,and biomineralization.Fracture repair poses challenges for orthopedic surgeons,necessitating the search for efficient healing methods.AIM To investigate the underlying mechanism by which hydrogel-loaded exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)facilitate the process of fracture healing.METHODS Hydrogels and loaded BMSC-derived exosome(BMSC-exo)gels were charac-terized to validate their properties.In vitro evaluations were conducted to assess the impact of hydrogels on various stages of the healing process.Hydrogels could recruit macrophages and inhibit inflammatory responses,enhance of human umbilical vein endothelial cell angiogenesis,and promote the osteogenic differen-tiation of primary cranial osteoblasts.Furthermore,the effect of hydrogel on fracture healing was confirmed using a mouse fracture model.RESULTS The hydrogel effectively attenuated the inflammatory response during the initial repair stage and subsequently facilitated vascular migration,promoted the formation of large vessels,and enabled functional vascularization during bone repair.These effects were further validated in fracture models.CONCLUSION We successfully fabricated a hydrogel loaded with BMSC-exo that modulates macrophage polarization and angiogenesis to influence bone regeneration.

Small extracellular vesicles from hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells attenuate spinal cord injury via miR-146a-5p-mediated regulation of macrophage polarization

Spinal cord injury is a disabling condition with limited treatment options.Multiple studies have provided evidence suggesting that small extracellular vesicles(SEVs)secreted by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)help mediate the beneficial effects conferred by MSC transplantation following spinal cord injury.Strikingly,hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived SEVs(HSEVs)exhibit increased therapeutic potency.We thus explored the role of HSEVs in macrophage immune regulation after spinal cord injury in rats and their significance in spinal cord repair.SEVs or HSEVs were isolated from bone marrow MSC supernatants by density gradient ultracentrifugation.HSEV administration to rats via tail vein injection after spinal cord injury reduced the lesion area and attenuated spinal cord inflammation.HSEVs regulate macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype in vivo and in vitro.Micro RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses of SEVs and HSEVs revealed that mi R-146a-5p is a potent mediator of macrophage polarization that targets interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1.Reducing mi R-146a-5p expression in HSEVs partially attenuated macrophage polarization.Our data suggest that HSEVs attenuate spinal cord inflammation and injury in rats by transporting mi R-146a-5p,which alters macrophage polarization.This study provides new insights into the application of HSEVs as a therapeutic tool for spinal cord injury.

O-linkedβ-N-acetylglucosaminylation may be a key regulatory factor in promoting osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells

Cumulative evidence suggests that O-linkedβ-N-acetylglucosaminylation(OGlcNAcylation)plays an important regulatory role in pathophysiological processes.Although the regulatory mechanisms of O-GlcNAcylation in tumors have been gradually elucidated,the potential mechanisms of O-GlcNAcylation in bone metabolism,particularly,in the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells(BMSCs)remains unexplored.In this study,the literature related to O-GlcNAcylation and BMSC osteogenic differentiation was reviewed,assuming that it could trigger more scholars to focus on research related to OGlcNAcylation and bone metabolism and provide insights into the development of novel therapeutic targets for bone metabolism disorders such as osteoporosis.

Effects of interleukin-10 treated macrophages on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway

BACKGROUND Alveolar bone defects caused by inflammation are an urgent issue in oral implant surgery that must be solved.Regulating the various phenotypes of macrophages to enhance the inflammatory environment can significantly affect the progression of diseases and tissue engineering repair process.AIM To assess the influence of interleukin-10(IL-10)on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)following their interaction with macrophages in an inflammatory environment.METHODS IL-10 modulates the differentiation of peritoneal macrophages in Wistar rats in an inflammatory environment.In this study,we investigated its impact on the proliferation,migration,and osteogenesis of BMSCs.The expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)and its activated form,phos-phorylated-STAT3,were examined in IL-10-stimulated macrophages.Subsequently,a specific STAT3 signaling inhibitor was used to impede STAT3 signal activation to further investigate the role of STAT3 signaling.RESULTS IL-10-stimulated macrophages underwent polarization to the M2 type through substitution,and these M2 macrophages actively facilitated the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.Mechanistically,STAT3 signaling plays a crucial role in the process by which IL-10 influences macrophages.Specifically,IL-10 stimulated the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway and reduced the macrophage inflammatory response,as evidenced by its diminished impact on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.CONCLUSION Stimulating macrophages with IL-10 proved effective in improving the inflammatory environment and promoting the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.The IL-10/STAT3 signaling pathway has emerged as a key regulator in the macrophage-mediated control of BMSCs’osteogenic differentiation.

Ecthyma Gangrenosum in Patient with Bone Marrow Aplasia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background: Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is an infrequent and discernible cutaneous disease caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In situations where it is associated with septicemia in debilitated patients, the prognosis is usually unfavorable. Objective: In this case, we aim to verify risk factors, clinical, bacteriological and therapeutic characteristics of ecthyma gangrenosum and we review the literature to highlight the features of this rare condition and discuss the role of early diagnosis and treatment. Case Report: We describe the clinical case of a 4-year-old male with bone marrow aplasia who was presented with characteristic skin lesions of EG and developed sepsis later. Conclusion: EG is a cutaneous disease characterized by its aggressive nature. The presence of delayed diagnosis and therapy, along with sepsis, is closely linked to a high mortality rate. Treatment is empirically founded on an aggressive initial approach.

Disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow as predictive classifiers for small cell lung cancer patients

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease characterized by early metastasis. Ane- uploid CD31- disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) and CD31+ disseminated tumor endothelial cells (DTECs) residing in the bone marrow are generally considered as the initiators of metastatic process. However, the clinical signifi- cance of DTCs and DTECs in SCLC remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical implications of diverse subtypes of highly heterogeneous DTCs and DTECs in SCLC patients. Methods: Subtraction enrichment and immunostaining-fluorescence in situ hybridization (SE-iFISH) was applied to enrich and perform comprehensive morphologic, karyotypic, and phenotypic characterization of aneuploid DTCs and DTECs in 30 patients. Additionally, co-detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor endothelial cells (CTECs) was conducted on 24 of the enrolled patients. Proof-of-concept of the whole exon sequencings (WES) on precisely selected different subtypes of CTCs or DTCs, longitudinally detected from a representative case with pathologically confirmed bone marrow metastasis, was validated to feasibly reveal genetic mutations in these cells. Results: DTCs, DTECs and their subtypes were readily detectable in SCLC patients. Comparative analysis re- vealed that the number of DTCs and DTECs was significantly higher than that of their corresponding CTCs and CTECs ( P < 0.001 for both). Positive detection of disseminated tumor microemboli (DTM) or disseminated tumor endothelial microemboli (DTEM) was associated with inferior survival outcomes ( P = 0.046 and P = 0.048). Pa- tients with EpCAM+ DTCs detectable displayed significantly lower disease control rate (DCR) (16.67% vs 73.33%, P = 0.019), reduced median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS) compared with those with EpCAM- DTCs ( P = 0.028 and P = 0.002, respectively). WES analysis indicated that post-treatment DTCs isolated from bone marrow at the time of disease progression shared more homologous somatic gene mu- tations with pre-treatment CTCs compared with post-treatment CTCs. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that bone marrow sampling and characterization of DTC subtypes provided a valuable tool for predicting treatment response and the prognosis in SCLC. Moreover, DTCs inherit a greater amount of homologous somatic information from pre-treatment CTCs, indicating their potential role in disease progression and treatment resistance.

Neuronal-like cell differentiation of non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells from C57BL/6J mice were sepa- rated and cultured using the ＂pour-off＂ method. Non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesen- chymal stem ceils developed colony-forming unit-fibroblasts, and could be expanded by supple- mentation with epidermal growth factor. Immunocytochemistry showed that the non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells exposed to basic fibroblast growth factor/epidermal growth factor/nerve growth factor expressed the neuron specific markers, neurofilament-200 and NeuN, in vitro. Non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells from 13-galactosidase transgenic mice were also transplanted into focal ischemic brain （right corpus striatum） of C57BL/6J mice. At 8 weeks, cells positive for LacZ and 13-galactosidase staining were observed in the ischemic tissues, and cells co-labeled with both 13-galactosidase and NeuN were seen by double immunohistochemical staining. These findings suggest that the non-adherent bone marrow cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells could differentiate into neuronal-like cells in vitro and in vivo.

The genomic landscapes of histone H3-Lys9 modifications of gene promoter regions and expression profiles in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） of nonembryonic origins possess the proliferation and multi-lineage differentiation potentials. It has been established that epigenetic mechanisms could be critical for determining the fate of stem cells, and MSCs derived from different origins exhibited different expression profiles individually to a certain extent. In this study, ChiP-on-chip was used to generate genome-wide histone H3-Lys9 acetylation and dimethylation profiles at gene promoters in human bone marrow MSCs. We showed that modifications of histone H3-Lys9 at gene promoters correlated well with mRNA expression in human bone marrow MSCs. Functional analysis revealed that many key cellular pathways in human bone marrow MSC self-renewal, such as the canonical signaling pathways, cell cycle pathways and cytokine related pathways may be regulated by H3-Lys9 modifications. These data suggest that gene activation and silencing affected by H3-Lys9 acetylation and dimethylation, respectively, may be essential to the maintenance of human bone marrow MSC self-renewal and multi-potency.

Overexpression of lentivirus-mediated glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in bone marrow stromal cells and its neuroprotection for the PC12 cells damaged by lactacystin

Objective To construct recombinant lentiviral vectors for gene delivery of the glial cell line-derived neurotropnic factor （GDNF）, and evaluate the neuroprotective effect of GDNF on lactacystin-damaged PC12 cells by transfecting it into bone marrow stromal cells （BMSCs）. Methods pLenti6/V5-GDNF plasmid was set up by double restriction enzyme digestion and ligation, and then the plasmid was transformed into Top10 cells. Purified pLenti6/V5-GDNF plasmids from the positive clones and the packaging mixture were cotransfected to the 293FT packaging cell line by Lipofectamine2000 to produce lentivirus, then the concentrated virus was transduced to BMSCs. Overexpression of GDNF in BMSCs was tested by RT-PCR, ELISA and immunocytochemistry, and its neuroprotection for lactacystin-damaged PC12 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Results Virus stock of GDNF was harvested with the titer of 5.6×10^5 TU/mL. After tmnsduction, GDNF-BMSCs successfully secreted GDNF to supematant with nigher concentration （800 pg/mL） than BMSCs did （less than 100 pg/mL）. The supematant of GDNF-BMSCs could significantly alleviate the damage of PC12 cells induced by lactacystin （10 μmol/L）. Conclusion Overexpression of lentivirus-mediated GDNF in the BMSCs cells can effectively protect PC12 cells from the injury by the proteasome inhibitor.

RANKL signaling in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells negatively regulates osteoblastic bone formation

RANKL signaling is essential for osteoclastogenesis. Its role in osteoblastic differentiation and bone formation is unknown. Here we demonstrate that RANK is expressed at an early stage of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) during osteogenic differentiation in both mice and human and decreased rapidly. RANKL signaling inhibits osteogenesis by promoting β-catenin degradation and inhibiting its synthesis. In contrast, RANKL signaling has no significant effects on adipogenesis of BMSCs.Interestingly, conditional knockout of rank in BMSCs with Prx1-Cre mice leads to a higher bone mass and increased trabecular bone formation independent of osteoclasts. In addition, rank: Prx1-Cre mice show resistance to ovariectomy-(OVX) induced bone loss. Thus, our results reveal that RANKL signaling regulates both osteoclasts and osteoblasts by inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and promotion of osteoclastogenesis.

miR-23a/b regulates the balance between osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Age-related osteoporosis is associated with the reduced capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） to differentiate into osteoblasts instead of adipocytes. However, the molecular mechanisms that decide the fate of BMSCs remain unclear. In our study, microRNA-23a, and microRNA-23b （miR-23a/b） were found to be markedly downregulated in BMSCs of aged mice and humans. The overexpression of miR-23a/b in BMSCs promoted osteogenic differentiation, whereas the inhibition of miR-23a/b increased adipogenic differentiation. Transmembrane protein 64 （Tmem64）, which has expression levels inversely related to those of miR-23a/b in aged and young mice, was identified as a major target of miR-23a/b during BMSC differentiation. In conclusion, our study suggests that miR-23a/b has a critical role in the regulation of mesenchymal lineage differentiation through the suppression of Tmem64.

Autologous bone marrow derived stem cell therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus-defining adequate administration methods

AIM To carry out randomized trial for evaluating effects of autologous bone marrow derived stem cell therapy(ABMSCT) through different routes.METHODS Bone marrow aspirate was taken from the iliac crest of patients. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were separatedand purified using centrifugation. These cells were then infused in a total of 21 patients comprising three groups of 7 patients each. Cells were infused into the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery(Group Ⅰ), splenic artery(Group Ⅱ) and through the peripheral intravenous route(Group Ⅲ). Another group of 7 patients acted as controls and a sham procedure was carried out on them(Group Ⅳ). The cells were labelled with the PET tracer F18-FDG to see their homing and in vivo distribution. Data for clinical outcome was expressed as mean ± SE. All other data was expressed as mean ± SD. Baseline and post treatment data was compared at the end of six months, using paired t-test. Cases and controls data were analyzed using independent t-test. A probability(P) value of < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Measures of clinical outcome were taken as the change or improvement in the following parameters:(1) C-peptide assay;(2) HOMA-IR and HOMA-B;(3) reduction in Insulin dose; subjects who showed reduction of insulin requirement of more than 50% from baseline requirement were regarded as responders; and(4) reduction in HbA 1c. RESULTS All the patients, after being advised for healthy lifestyle changes, were evaluated at periodical intervals and at the end of 6 mo. The changes in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and percentage of body fat in all groups were not significantly different at the end of this period. The results of intra-group comparison before and after ABMSCT at the end of six months duration was as follows:(1) the area under C-peptide response curve was increased at the end of 6 mo however the difference remained statistically non-significant(P values for fasting C-peptide were 0.973, 0.103, 0.263 and 0.287 respectively and the P values for stimulated C-peptide were 0.989, 0.395, 0.325 and 0.408 respectively for groups Ⅰ?to Ⅳ);(2) the Insulin sensitivity indices of HOMA IR and HOMA B also did not show any significant differences(P values for HOMA IR were 0.368, 0.223, 0.918 and 0.895 respectively and P values for HOMA B were 0.183, 0.664, 0.206 and 0.618 respectively for groups Ⅰto Ⅳ);(3) Group Ⅰshowed a significant reduction in Insulin dose requirement(P < 0.01). Group Ⅱ patients also achieved a significant reduction in Insulin dosages(P = 0.01). The Group Ⅰand Group Ⅱ patients together constituted the targeted group wherein the feeding arteries to pancreas were used for infusing stem cells. Group Ⅲ, which was the intravenous group, showed a non-significant reduction in Insulin dose requirement(P = 0.137). Group Ⅳ patients which comprised the control arm also showed a significant reduction in Insulin dosages at the end of six months(P < 0.05); and(4) there was a non-significant change in the Hb A1 c levels at the end of 6 mo across all groups(P = 0.355, P = 0.351, P = 0.999 and P = 0.408 respectively for groups Ⅰto Ⅳ). CONCLUSION Targeted route showed a significant reduction in Insulin requirement at the end of six months of study period whereas the intravenous group failed to show reduction.

The future of bone marrow stromal cell transplantation for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Bone marrow stromal cell （BMSC） transplantation therapy is a promising approach for treating spinal cord injury （SCI）, based on a number of experimental and clinical reports （Wright et al., 2011）. BMSCs are a source of neuroregenerative somatic stem cells that are without the potential for tumorigenicity. Although clinical studies of autologous BMSC transplantation have been reported in Asia （fiang et al., 2013; Yoon et al., 2007）, in Japan, it is currently an uncommon procedure and highly controversial as well. This perspective paper provides an overview of the clinical effectiveness of BMSC trans- 191antation and a proposal to enhance its use as a viable therapy.

Transplantation of Goat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (gMSCs) Help Restore Spermatogenesis in Endogenous Germ Cells-Depleted Mouse Models

Mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） derived from bone marrow are a well-characterized population of adult stem cells that can be maintained and propagated in culture for a long time with the capacity to form a variety of cell types. This study investigated the characteristics of dairy goat bone marrow MSCs （gMSCs） and their differentiation potential toward germ cells in vitro, and to test their potential in vivo, these ceils were transplanted into seminiferous tubes of endogenous germ cells-depleted mouse models. The results showed that characteristic gMSC lines were established and a small population of gMSCs transdifferentiated into male germ cell-like cells which expressed Stra8 after induction with retinoic acid （RA）, as analysed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and immunofluorescence. Further, we transplanted the gMSCs into endogenous germ cells-depleted mouse models. A variety of analysis demonstrated that gMSCs might differentiate into male germ cells and helped spermatogenesis in endogenous germ cells depleted mouse models at 30 d after transplantation. The gMSCs could be used as a potential source of cells for reproductive studies and a neoadjuvant therapy for the spermatogenesis anomaly. Moreover, these cells may offer a new strategy for male infertility and an alternative approach for production of transgenic animals.

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation attenuates axonal injury in stroke rats

Previous studies have shown that transplantation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promotes neural functional recovery after stroke, but the neurorestorative mechanisms remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that functional recovery of myelinated axons may be one of underlying mechanisms. In this study, an ischemia/reperfusion rat model was established using the middle cerebral artery occlusion method. Rats were used to test the hypothesis that intravenous transplantation of human bone marrow mesenchyrnal stem cells through the femoral vein could exert neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia via a mechanism associated with the ability to attenuate axonal injury. The results of behavioral tests, infarction volume analysis and immunohistochemistry showed that cerebral ischemia caused severe damage to the myelin sheath and axons. After rats were intravenously transplanted with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, the levels of axon and myelin sheath-related proteins, including microtubule-associated protein 2, myelin basic protein, and growth-associated protein 43, were elevated, infarct volume was decreased and neural function was improved in cerebral ischemic rats. These findings suggest that intravenously transplanted human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promote neural function. Possible mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects include resistance to demyelination after cerebral ischemia, prevention of axonal degeneration, and promotion of axonal regeneration.

Minimally manipulated autologous adherent bone marrow cells (ABMCs):a promising cell therapy of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury（SCI）is a devastating ailment that results in drastic life style alterations for the patients and their family members（Mc Donald and Sadowsky,2002）.Damage post injury causes necrosis,edema,hemorrhage and vasospasm.Post injury,secondary damage is caused by ischemia,

Propofol promotes spinal cord injury repair by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation

Propofol is a neuroprotective anesthetic. Whether propofol can promote spinal cord injury repair by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells remains poorly understood. We used rats to investigate spinal cord injury repair using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation combined with propofol administration via the tail vein. Rat spinal cord injury was clearly alleviated; a large number of newborn non-myelinated and myelinated nerve fibers appeared in the spinal cord, the numbers of CM-Dil-labeled bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and fluorogold-labeled nerve fibers were increased and hindlimb motor function of spinal cord-injured rats was markedly improved. These improvements were more prominent in rats subjected to bone marrow mesenchymal cell transplantation combined with propofol administration than in rats receiving monotherapy. These results indicate that propofol can enhance the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on spinal cord injury in rats.

Improvement of learning and memory abilities and motor function in rats with cerebral infarction by intracerebral transplantation of neuron-like cells derived from bone marrow stromal cells

BACKGROUND： Transplantation of fetal cell suspension or blocks of fetal tissue can ameliorate the nerve function after the injury or disease in the central nervous system, and it has been used to treat neurodegenerative disorders induced by Parkinson disease. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effects of the transplantation of neuron-like cells derived from bone marrow stromal cells （rMSCs） into the brain in restoring the dysfunctions of muscle strength and balance as well as learning and memory in rat models of cerebral infarction. DESIGN ： A randomized controlled experiment.SETTING ： Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University.MATERIALS ： Twenty-four male SD rats （3-4 weeks of age, weighing 200-220 g） were used in this study （Certification number：2001A027）. METHODS： The experiments were carried out in Zhongshan Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University between December 2003 and December 2004. ① Twenty-four male SD rats randomized into three groups with 8 rats in each： experimental group, control group and sham-operated group. Rats in the experiment al group and control group were induced into models of middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO）. After in vitro cultured, purified and identified with digestion, the Fischer344 rMSCs were induced to differentiate by tanshinone IIA, which was locally injected into the striate cortex （18 area） of rats in the experimental group, and the rats in the control group were injected by L-DMEM basic culture media （without serum） of the same volume to the corresponding brain area. In the sham-operated group, only muscle and vessel of neck were separated. ② At 2 and 8 weeks after the transplantation, the rats were given the screen test, prehensile-traction test, balance beam test and Morris water-maze test. ③ The survival and distribution of the induced cells in corresponding brain area were observed with Nissl stained with toluidine blue and hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining in the groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： ① Results of the behavioral tests （time of the Morris water-maze test screen test, prehensile-traction test, balance beam test）; ② Survival and distribution of the induced cells.RESULTS： All the 24 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① Two weeks after transplantation, rats with neuron-like cells grafts in the experimental group had significant improvement on their general muscle strength than those in the control group [screen test： （9.4±1.7）, （4.7±1.0） s, P 〈 0.01]; forelimb muscle strength [prehensile-traction test： （7.6±1.4）, （5.2±1.2） s, P 〈 0.01], ability to keep balance [balance beam test： （7.9±0.74）, （6.1±0.91） s, P 〈 0.01] and abilities of learning and memory [latency to find the platform： （35.8±5.9）, （117.5±11.6） s, P 〈 0.01; distance： （623.1±43.4）, （1 902.3±98.6） cm, P 〈 0.01] as compared with those in the control group. The functional performances in the experimental group at 8 weeks were better than those at two weeks, which were still obviously different from those in the sham-operated group （P 〈 0.05）. ② The HE and Nissl stained brain tissue section showed that there was nerve cell proliferation at the infarcted cortex in the experiment group, the density was higher than that in the control group, plenty of aggregative or scattered cells could be observed at the site where needle was inserted for transplantation, the cells migrated directively towards the area around them, the cerebral vascular walls were wrapped by plenty of cells; In the control group, most of the cortices were destroyed, karyopyknosis and necrosis of neurons were observed, normal nervous tissue structure disappeared induced by edema, only some nerve fibers and glial cells remained.CONCLUSION： The rMSCs transplantation can obviously enhance the motor function and the abilities of learning and memory in rat models of cerebral infarction.

Advance in bone marrow derived cell therapy:CD31-expressing cells as next generation cardiovascular cell therapy

In the recent past,bone marrow(BM)-derived cells have been used to regenerate damaged cardiovascular tissues post myocardial infarction (MI).Recent clinical trials have shown controversial results in recovering damaged cardiac tissue. New progress has shown that the underlying mechanisms of cell-based therapy relies more heavily on humoral and paracrine effects rather than on new tissue generation.However,studies have also reported the potential of new endothelial cell generation from BM cells.Thus,efforts have been made to identify cells having higher humoral or therapeutic effects as well as their surface markers.Specifically, BM-derived CD31^+ cells were isolated by a surface marker and demonstrated high angio-vasculogenic effects. I will present recent advances in the therapeutic use of BM-derived cells and the usefulness of CD31^+ cells as a next generation cell therapy.